A personal anecdote. About 10 years ago, as a single man, I was in a similar position, having saved enough money through work and investments to enjoy "freedom" for a period of many years. And at first it was great, nirvana like even, traveling and dabbling about in various projects. Even though I wasn't driving around fancy cars or living a lavish lifestyle (these things have never really appealed to me anyway), I felt that this must be what it's like to be rich, not to want for anything and indulging every whim and fancy.
However, as time marched on and I checked things off my list, I began to encounter a problem I didn't see coming. I started to feel an ever increasing desire to do something with my time that felt worthwhile, but what should that be? As I found out, it's not so easy to answer. See, at the time, I had removed every hook society had put into me. No bills, no obligations, no responsibilities other than paying rent and feeding myself. I could literally move in any direction. Should I join the fight against climate change? Study robotics and AI? Start a (most assuredly successful /s) SaaS business? The possibilities were endless, and so was the worry that choosing one path meant I could not pursue the others, at least not in a meaningful way. Hence, I ran into a very real and unexpected problem with commitment, that would go on to keep me at unease for a period of several months.
So what did I do? Well, the only thing I could think of to get out of that episode of paralysis by analysis; went back home and started up with some contracting work to pass the time. I met my wife shortly thereafter and not too long after that we welcomed our first child into the world.
Funny thing is I no longer wish for total freedom (well maybe just a day or two here and there), but now that I've been down that path, I've seen how it plays out for me personally. Now I have all the direction I need. Happy trails everyone.
A personal anecdote. About 10 years ago, as a single man, I was in a similar position, having saved enough money through work and investments to enjoy "freedom" for a period of many years. And at first it was great, nirvana like even, traveling and dabbling about in various projects. Even though I wasn't driving around fancy cars or living a lavish lifestyle (these things have never really appealed to me anyway), I felt that this must be what it's like to be rich, not to want for anything and indulging every whim and fancy.
However, as time marched on and I checked things off my list, I began to encounter a problem I didn't see coming. I started to feel an ever increasing desire to do something with my time that felt worthwhile, but what should that be? As I found out, it's not so easy to answer. See, at the time, I had removed every hook society had put into me. No bills, no obligations, no responsibilities other than paying rent and feeding myself. I could literally move in any direction. Should I join the fight against climate change? Study robotics and AI? Start a (most assuredly successful /s) SaaS business? The possibilities were endless, and so was the worry that choosing one path meant I could not pursue the others, at least not in a meaningful way. Hence, I ran into a very real and unexpected problem with commitment, that would go on to keep me at unease for a period of several months.
So what did I do? Well, the only thing I could think of to get out of that episode of paralysis by analysis; went back home and started up with some contracting work to pass the time. I met my wife shortly thereafter and not too long after that we welcomed our first child into the world.
Funny thing is I no longer wish for total freedom (well maybe just a day or two here and there), but now that I've been down that path, I've seen how it plays out for me personally. Now I have all the direction I need. Happy trails everyone.